An Underrated Photography Hack

You must’ve heard of ‘leading lines’ in photography, but what exactly is it and how can you make the most of it? Let me tell you.

Leading lines are one of the most powerful composition techniques in photography. That’s why professional photographers use them all the time. Roads, rivers, and fences make amazing leading lines, but they only work if you know where to place them in your photo.

A leading line helps the viewer’s eye move from one part of the image to another. This creates movement in the photo and makes it more interesting. This movement draws the viewer into the image. If the photograph is very busy, you can use a leading line to take the viewer’s eye to the part of the photo you want him or her to focus on.

Photos with leading lines usually have paths, rails, buildings, bridges, or streets. Even rows of trees create lines. Usually, leading lines start from the bottom of a photo and lead the eye upward or inward. For example in this photo, there are a great number of lines in this scene. The lighting strip above and the pavement below lead the viewer all the way to the end of the tunnel. A great example of a path.

The leading line doesn’t have to be so obvious. In this image, the bend in the road leads the viewer’s eye to the subject, which is the sunset.

That’s how leading lines work. Look for these lines around you and use them to your advantage. But always ask yourself ‘where is my attention being directed?’. A leading line should always point to the subject, not out of the frame or into nowhere. Now, get out there and start looking for leading lines to make your photos more interesting!